Tap Handle #556: Blue Point - Old Howling Bastard

Tap size:  11.25"
Rarity:  Very Rare
Mounting:  standard 3/8" ferrule on 5/16" anchor bolt

Back in tap profile #98, I covered a great tap from Blue Point called Old Howling Bastard. It featured a hand dressed in gangster clothing and holding a revolver. This tap features the same beer as the older tap, but in a much different style. An old man holds a mug of beer in one hand and a staff or walking stick in the other. His robes are green with yellow highlights, and the name of the beer is prominently displayed at the top of the tap, while the Blue Point sign appears at the bottom. The best part of the tap, however, is the old man's face, wild and crazy, with one eye closed and the other bugged out, the mouth open and howling and missing several teeth. The tufts of hair on top of the head and the wizard-like beard round out the character. It is an extremely enjoyable and popular tap when shown to friends and family. Unfortunately the tap is hard to find, and when it can be found it is expensive. At this point it's not clear whether this was only used for a special occasion - the older tap has not been replaced by this one, so the usage and true rarity remain a mystery for now.

You can read more about the original Blue Point Howling Bastard tap here.

For more about Blue Point, see this post.

Click through to see more photos of this insanely enjoyable tap...